A single capacitive sensor that may detect both water leaks and flammable vapors. The sensor may have two electrodes not touching each other but supported with an insulative material between the electrodes that allows fluids to enter between the electrodes. An electronic circuit connected to the capacitive sensor may determine the capacitance of the two electrodes. Fluids may enter between the electrodes and affect their capacitance. Permittivities of the fluids may be calculated from their effects on capacitance. Ranges of the permittivities may indicate the kind of substances and their intensity of presence. Water and flammable vapors are examples of such substances. The electronic circuit may be connected to a control module of a water heater, in that if the intensity or concentration of detected water or flammable vapors reaches a pre-set threshold, then the circuit may trigger an alarm and/or shut down the water heater.

Disclosed herein are WIFI and could enabled temperature control systems. The temperature control systems are configured to receive user temperature settings and preferences, and control a water heater based on the user temperature settings and preferences. The temperature control systems include two or more sampling rates for enabling a higher efficiency of operation compared to conventional water heaters.

A system and method for climate control of an environment in a building are provided. The system includes a first loop and second loop for circulating a heating medium. The system also includes a boiler, an energy optimizer and a controller. The method involves circulating a heating medium, providing heat to the heating medium, and controlling the boiler based on various inputs.

The flameless heater system includes an energy source comprising a diesel engine configured to create volumes of air, a hydraulic system to control engine loading for heat generation and for air moving, and a control system, operatively coupled with the energy source and the hydraulic system to control at least one of a speed of the diesel engine, a loading of the diesel engine, or a fan speed.

There is provided a water delivery system that includes, hot and cold water lines that are for feeding hot and cold water to respective hot and cold water fixtures, a water heater having a cold water input and a hot water output, a water circulator for pumping water from the hot water outlet to the hot water fixture, a bypass line that couples between the water circulator and the cold water input and at least a first check valve constructed and arranged in the bypass line for selectively directing hot pumped water via the water circulator to the cold water input to the water heater while preventing flow in an opposite direction toward the water circulator. A second check valve is disposed in the cold water line for selectively directing cold water from the cold water line to the cold water input to the water heater while preventing flow in an opposite direction toward the cold water line.

Appliances, such as hot water heaters, hot water heater controllers, and methods of operating such hot water heaters, that take into consideration the availability and capacity of alternative energy sources so that additional efficiencies can be realized by sensing the availability of an alternative energy source and adjusting the control algorithms used to control the use of the available electric power is provided.

A system and method for climate control of an environment in a building are provided. The system includes a first loop and second loop for circulating a heating medium. The system also includes a boiler, an energy optimizer and a controller. The method involves circulating a heating medium, providing heat to the heating medium, and controlling the boiler based on various inputs.

One example embodiment relates to a water heater controller. The water heater controller includes an operating conditions circuit structured to receive temperature measurement signals indicative of temperatures over time of water in a tank of a water heater, and occupancy measurement signals indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater. A drift threshold circuit is structured to, in response to the occupancy measurement signals indicating that an individual is present or not present, define a plurality of drift threshold levels to trigger operation of a heating element of the water heater. A control circuit is structured to controllably operate the heating element based on the occupancy measurement signals and on the plurality of drift threshold levels.

A heating system is configured to optimize the speed and accuracy of the system in achieving various ambient air temperature setpoints, by modulating the heated water supply water setpoint to optimize the slope of the system's response curve. Optimized response curves are automatically determined by analyzing differences between ambient air temperatures over time in response to modulated supply water temperatures as they are reset upward or downward to achieve response times prioritized for improved occupant comfort. The controller of the heating system calculates a temperature slope, and adjusts the supply water setpoint to increase/decrease the speed of ambient temperature rise to achieve a desired slope.

A heating system is configured to optimize the speed and accuracy of the system in achieving various ambient air temperature setpoints, by modulating the heated water supply water setpoint to optimize the slope of the system's response curve. Optimized response curves are automatically determined by analyzing differences between ambient air temperatures over time in response to modulated supply water temperatures as they are reset upward or downward to achieve response times prioritized for improved occupant comfort. The controller of the heating system calculates a temperature slope, and adjusts the supply water setpoint to increase/decrease the speed of ambient temperature rise to achieve a desired slope.